Automated maximum sustained rate system and method

Abstract

In the context of electric power generation facilities, a system and method that enable control of maximum sustained rate of change in output to accommodate changing load conditions and to facilitate efficient use of system resources are disclosed. In accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter, a ramp rate for an electric generator source may be set, operating parameters may be monitored, rates of change or discrepancies of the operating parameters over time may be computed; and output signals may then be used selectively to control certain system components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 setting a ramp rate for an electric source; 
 monitoring operating parameters at components of the source including one or more of a boiler, a steam turbine, an electric generator, and a stack; 
 computing rates of change or discrepancies of the operating parameters over time; and 
 providing output signals as a result of said monitoring and said computing selectively to control one of the boiler, the turbine, or the generator, 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing the output signals selectively to vary the ramp rate based on the operating parameters, 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing input from a distributed control system component remote from the electric source, and 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing input from a solar generator source having a solar unit controller in communication with the distributed control system component. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the operating parameters include throttle pressure at the boiler, first stage metal temperature at the turbine, megawatt error at the generator, and opacity at the stack. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein said providing output signals comprises selectively transmitting the output signals to ones of the boiler, turbine, generator, and stack to control the operating parameters. 
     
     
       4. An electric power generation system comprising:
 a generator source including a boiler, a steam turbine, an electric generator, and a stack, each of said boiler, turbine, generator, and stack comprising an associated control component; 
 a unit controller in communication with the associated control component at each of said boiler, turbine, generator, and stack; said unit controller configured and operative to perform a method comprising:
 setting a ramp rate for said generator source, the ramp rate indicative of a change in output level of said generator; 
 receiving data representative of operating parameters from the associated control component at one or more of said boiler, turbine, generator, and stack; 
 computing rates of change or discrepancies of the operating parameters over time; and 
 providing output signals as a result of the receiving and the computing selectively to control one of said boiler, turbine, or generator; 
 
 an additional generator source, an additional unit controller, and a distributed control system component in communication with said unit controller and said additional unit controller; and 
 a solar generator source having a solar unit controller, wherein said distributed control system component is in communication with said solar unit controller, and setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing input from said solar unit controller. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein the operating parameters include throttle pressure at said boiler, first stage metal temperature at said turbine, megawatt error at said generator, and opacity at said stack. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  wherein providing output signals comprises selectively transmitting the output signals to the associated control component at ones of said boiler, turbine, generator, and stack to control the operating parameters. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 4  wherein setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing the output signals selectively to vary the ramp rate based on the operating parameters. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 4  wherein, for each of said unit controller and said additional unit controller, setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing input from said distributed control system component. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing, at said distributed control system component, the output signals from said unit controller selectively to vary the ramp rate at said additional generator source. 
     
     
       10. A method of utilizing resources at an electric power generation facility, said method comprising:
 employing a plurality of electric power sources, each of the plurality of power sources including a boiler, a steam turbine, an electric generator, a stack, and a unit controller; 
 providing a distributed control system component remote from the electrical power sources and in communication with the unit controller at each of the plurality of power sources; 
 for each of the of power sources:
 setting a ramp rate, the ramp rate indicative of a change in output level of said generator; 
 monitoring operating parameters of one or more of the boiler, turbine, generator, and stack; 
 computing rates of change or discrepancies of the operating parameters over time; and 
 providing output signals as a result of said monitoring and said computing selectively to control one of the boiler, the turbine, or the generator, 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing the output signals selectively to vary the ramp rate based on the operating parameters, 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing input from the distributed control system component, and 
 wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing input from a solar generator source having a solar unit controller in communication with the distributed control system component; and 
 
 receiving, at the distributed control system component, responsive to said monitoring, said computing, and said providing, data representative of the operating parameters at each of the plurality of power sources. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the operating parameters include throttle pressure at the boiler, first stage metal temperature at the turbine, megawatt error at the generator, and opacity at the stack. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein said providing output signals comprises selectively transmitting the output signals to ones of the boiler, the turbine, the generator, and the stack to control the operating parameters. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein said setting a ramp rate comprises utilizing the output signals selectively to vary the ramp rate based on the operating parameters. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises utilizing input from the distributed control system component. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein said setting a ramp rate for each of the plurality of power sources comprises utilizing the operating parameters from each of the others of the plurality of power sources. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein said setting a ramp rate further comprises maximizing ramp rate for a number of the plurality of power sources necessary to satisfy a steady state load.